Ford Ranger 2018 Problems

Lowering your T6 Ford Ranger can be done cheaply by ordering lowered springs and having a qualified suspension shop fit them as you'll need a wheel alignment afterwards. Also budget for a whole set of new shocks as they'll need to be matched to your lowered springs. This could affect the size of the payloads you can take, as the new springs won't be able to handle the weights the stock ones could. There could also be legal ramifications in your state, so speak to your department of transport before you modify your car.

It is quite difficult to make a petrol T6 Ranger faster without spending a lot of money. Diesel Rangers (2.2-litre and 3.2-litre), however, have a large range of options, starting with improving the tune in the ECU to optimise the air:fuel ratio (normally 25% increases in power and torque, and 10% improvement in fuel economy), and blocking the EGT system. After that you'll find excellent gains by upgrading the air intake, exhaust and intercooler system (with a new tune to suit the modified parts). After those modifications you're getting pretty wild with turbo and fuel system upgrades. Be mindful to check with your local department of transport to see if these modifications are legal before commencing any work.

There are many ways to personalise your Ford Ranger, including kits to lower or lift your suspension, fit large off-road wheels and tyres, change the bumpers and grille for aftermarket (or F150 Raptor-style parts), vinyl wrap over the paint, and more. It all comes down to personal style and what budget you have, so have a look around Google for modified Ford Rangers as there are as many possibilities as there are grains of sand on Bondi beach.

The easiest and cheapest way to improve the mileage from your Ford Ranger is to concentrate on driving with peak efficiency in mind. Avoiding stop/start traffic, maintaining a constant cruising speed on the freeway, and driving as smoothly as possible will all pay dividends to your fuel consumption. Diesel models also benefit from an improved intercooler, intake and exhaust package in conjunction with a retune of the factory ECU.

Ford Rangers are a workhorse commercial utility vehicle first and foremost, popular with Aussies for their ability to take a tonne of payload in the back, and pull tonnes of tow loads with ease. This heavy duty capability comes at the cost of ride and handling compared to conventional cars and 4x4s, as the suspension is set-up to handle heavy loads, not take corners and ride smoothly. Any work done to make a Ranger ride smoother, like replacing shock absorbers, changing to passenger car-style tyres, or replacing springs with softer rates, will reduce the Ranger's ability to handle loads. You should also check any parts are legal to use on the Ranger before fitting them so you don't void your warranty or are defected by police.

Reprogramming an un-coded new key for a current-generation PX (2007-current) Ford Ranger can be done at home if your model is an early 2007-2011 Mark 1 model. You simply get your two original keys, sit in the car with the door closed, and then turn each key to position 2 on the ignition barrel (with the red lights showing on the dash), then remove each within 10 seconds per-key. You then insert the new key, turn it to ignition position 2 and remove it within 10 seconds. You can then re-insert the key and start the car. However, if you have a later model Ford Ranger you need to have a Ford dealer program the key to your specific car and this cannot be done at home as it involves communicating with the car’s ECU. Different dealers can charge different amounts to supply and code a key, anywhere from $350 to $1500, so ring around your area. You will need this done to be able to unlock your Ford Ranger without a key.

To remove the door panel on a T6-generation Ford Ranger you start by removing two screws at the bottom of the panel, then undo the single screw holding the silver door handle cover on. There is another screw behind the cover for the door lever inside the inner section of the door. Unclip the power window wiring plug and remove the door handle, then the door panel can be pried off the metal frame of the door as it simply clips to the door frame.

Lift out the four push-lock clips on the radiator cover panel using a flat-blade screwdriver. Push in the clip at the front of that panel, hidden behind the left-hand side of the grille to remove the top cover. Remove the Ford badge by undoing the three Torx-headed bolts holding that panel in from behind. The grille shell is held in by five push-lock clips, with the two outside clips accessed from behind the wheel arch liners, and the three centre clips accessed through the central air intake in the bumper. Once those clips have been popped out, the grille should lift out.

To remove the radio in T6-generation Ford Rangers start by using trim removal tools to pop off the clipped-on trim panels next to the radio and fan control console. There is a screw on each side behind each of these holding the black radio unit in, which you will need to remove. You can then pop out the lower part of that black trim, housing the cigarette lighter and power socket. You then need to use trim removal tools to lever the vents either side of the radio screen out. The left-hand side should start near the door and work in towards the radio. Once these pieces have been removed pull the trim that sits between the radio screen and the controls, starting with the right-hand side piece, then pull the left-hand piece which runs all the way to the left-hand door. There will be six Phillips-head screws holding the control panel and screen to the car, which all need to be removed. Once the control panel has been removed you can then undo four more Phillips-head screws to remove the radio unit itself.

The ADR requires carmakers to have a side indicator so there is always a visible turn signal light, so you should be able to see that even if you can’t see the front light.